Abstract [en]

The aging population and higher occurrence of chronic diseases today has healthcare facing a very high occupancy and limited resources. To meet rising demands, many healthcare institutions have adapted operational strategies traditionally used in more industrial settings such as Lean production. In this study, the value flow during emergency visits to the heart emergency at Danderyds hospital (Danderyds Sjukhus AB) was mapped and analysed through observations and interviews. The aim was to identify potential changes that might render a more efficient patient flow and improve the operations at a healthcare institution working in accordance with Lean healthcare.

The findings from the study show that waste related to Transport, Motion, Waiting, Overproduction & Over processing, Defects, Confusion and People exists at the heart emergency. The most common source of waste is related to routines and compliance to them among the staff, all though some issues related to communication and workplace culture were also discovered.

Our main suggestion is therefore to establish standardised routines that are easy to follow for the staff at the clinic, to make emergency visits and patient flow more efficient. The study and its findings can be seen as a general contribution to the discourse regarding Lean healthcare, value stream mapping and analysing. It can also be used by healthcare institutions similar to the case clinic, about to perform an analysis of the value stream.